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Importing

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Steps to importing

To import egg products and ingredients you must either be registered as a food importer with MPI, or use a registered food importer. There are also other standards and requirements. We've created a step-by-step process to explain what's involved.

Are you using wood packaging?

If your consignment is shipped to New Zealand on wooden pallets, or wood has been used to package any part of your consignment, you'll also need to comply with the requirements for importing wood packaging.

Export goods returning to New Zealand

If you have New Zealand-origin egg products returning to New Zealand – for example, a consignment that has been rejected by an importing country – you need to meet the requirements of the import health standard (IHS) for returning egg products.

Exporters of eggs or egg products are legally obliged to notify MPI if their export goods are returning to New Zealand and will be re-exported. You can use the export non-conformance report to do this.

Meet biosecurity requirements

You'll need to understand and comply with the biosecurity requirements for your product.

Find the import health standard for your product

Biosecurity requirements are detailed in documents called import health standards (IHS). The IHS for your product tells you what you need to do to import it, including getting manufacturers' declarations and veterinary certificates when required.

The countries that egg products can be imported from have veterinary certificates that meet New Zealand's biosecurity requirements. Veterinary certificates can be found in the relevant IHS.

Often you can only import certain products from the countries listed or named in an IHS.

If there's no IHS for your product, you can’t import it. Note that there is no IHS for fresh table eggs.

Importing your product under equivalent measures (equivalence)

If your product doesn't meet all of the biosecurity requirements in the IHS (for example, if it has been treated using a different method from what is listed in the IHS), you can ask MPI about assessing your product under equivalent measures. This is known as 'equivalence'. Any biosecurity risks must be managed equally well with your method.

You will need to supply information to show how your product meets the IHS biosecurity requirements (for example, by providing information about cooking times and temperatures, and other processing details).

You'll also need to provide MPI with supporting information as listed in each IHS. MPI will issue a biosecurity permit if your request is approved.

Arrange transitional storage

MPI approves transitional facilities to hold and manage imported goods that might pose a biosecurity risk. These goods may need to be inspected or treated at the transitional facility, to manage the biosecurity risk, before they can be cleared by MPI.

All sea containers arriving in New Zealand need to be taken to a transitional facility and unpacked there.

You or your customs broker need to arrange for the transfer of your container to a transitional facility, before your goods arrive in New Zealand.

Comply with regulations and standards

meeting specific requirements for foods identified as presenting a higher risk to consumers, also known as foods of high or increased regulatory interest.

All food businesses must comply with the Food Act 2014, Food Regulations 2015 and the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. For example, food sold in retail shops must have labels in English, with a New Zealand distributor's name and address.